Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-16

confusion and surprise of the polite oiferer,
who has no more thought of being taken
at his word than have you, dear reader,
when you sign yourself the humble serv-
ant" OF some great bore.
Nine. Calderon took a sensible view of
the case when she remarked " If all these
offers of service in which it is Mexican Ell
quette to indulge, would be believed in,
such as, Remember, / am here but to
serve you, Command me in all things
My house and everything in it is at your
disposal ETC., we should, of course, be dis
appointed to find that, Notwithstanding
these reiterated assurances, we must hire a
house for ourselves and even servants to
wait on u.s. But take these expressions at
what they are worth, and believe we shall
find that the people here are about as sin
cere as their ncighbors."
She adds, Never shall forget the crest
fallen countenance of a Mexican gentleman
who had Just purchased a very handsome
set of London harness, when, hearing it
admired by Frenchman, he carelessly
gave the customary answer, 1t is quite at
your disposal and sgas answered by pro-
fusion of bows and ready acceptance of the
| offer. The only difficulty with the French
man appeared tc be whether or not he
coeh carry it home under his cloak, which
| he finally did"
I was present one day when Mexican
physician made his usual morning cali
upon a lady who had been some time i'll
with a low fever. The doctor-a little,
leather-colored old man, dressed in natty
suit of pale lavender-seemedt to be harm
less creature, for Though he looked at her
| tongue and felt of her pulse, and stared at
the head of his cane like solemn owl, af-
ter the manner of medical men the world
over, his chief mission in life appeared to
be giving lessons in The art of polite con-
Versaton. The sonora was greatly sur
prised because | expressed amusement al
his words and manner, and grayely in
formed me that he never failed to say ex-
actly the same things every time he came
adding, q He is such gentleman ~
The dialogue which transpired, when he
arose to leave, give you verbatim:
Madame this by the bedside), am al
your service"
NIL grdcios, Senior Doctor"
Madame this at the foot of the bed
know me for your most humble servant >
4" Good morning. Senior Doctor, an,igt
oeio."
" Madame there he stopped beside ia
ble), l kiss your feet"
Senior Doctor, kiss your hand"
Madame this near the door,, my pool
house and all in it-myself, though useles.
and all l have is yours"
" MI gracios, Senior Doctor
He turns around and opens the door
again turning as he does so, saying, "Adios
madame. Your most humble servant"
"Adios, Doctor; amigo milo"
He goes out, partly closes the door, but
reopens ii to put in his head and fire
parting shot: ''Adios, madame; at YOU
service"
Such long drawn-out civility, as if the
parting between the physician and patient
were sweet sorrow indeed, seems rather
misplaced
In Mexico it is considered more polite to
says Senorita Miss instead of Sonora
MRS., even to married ladies; and the
matron of the house, though bent with the
weight OF three score years and ten, is al.
| ways spoken of as " La Nina u" the little
girl.") This last custom is still more COM
mon in Cuba, where the old negresses who
spend all their lives in the family are &C.
customed to call their young misstresses
Ninds, and never change the name at any
age. In Mexico, however, the diminutive
signifies rather term of endearment than
any reference to age or size.
Indeed, the terms of affection in common
use here are as exaggerated as most OF
their expressions. Lovers address each
other as " Nj Uida'' (' My life'') M alma
I" My soul'9; mothers call their children
and other pets, by the same names, and
children talk to their dogs and dolls in
similar phrase. The diminutives ito and
ctto are frequently added to nouns, simply
in token of affection. For example, il
your name be Josefa, your intimates will
address you as JOsefta; precisely as the
padre is universally called "padyecitor
{" dear little priest'') as mark of extraor.
binary respect and affection, though prob.
ably he is bald with age and so fat that his
benedicte is but an asthmatic gargle
| FANNIE B. WARD.